There are 7 billion people on Earth, and that number is increasing every day — human influence on our planet is ever more apparent. Changes to the natural world combined with growing human demands threaten our health and safety, our national security, our economy, and our quality of life.

Thank you to those that participated in helping us shape the future of USGS science!

Click on the mission areas to the right to read the strategies

The USGS is focused on some of the most significant issues society faces, in which natural science can make a substantial contribution to the well-being of the Nation and the world. The USGS Science Strategy outlines the major societal issues that USGS science is poised to address. We've also created specific strategies for each of those areas to expand and advance the actions we can take in the next decade. Thank you to all who offered input!

Learn more about what we are doing.

In 2010, the USGS aligned itself with the broad science themes outlined in our 10-year Bureau-level Science Strategy. Teams of USGS scientists also led the creation of 10-year science strategies for each of the USGS Mission Areas: